On the 15^th and 16^th of May of 2010 we participated in the fourth edition of the Fair Play x Play of l’Ascenció of Granollers. We have been two days reporting mancala games among the attendees who came to the fairground at our exhibition and demonstration stand.

About a year ago we had established this website. The reason was to open a virtual window from which to see the results of research on mancala games, which we are doing from a while ago, at different places of Africa where we have travelled. An outcome that is specified in informative articles, exclusive videos and rules of mancala games not documented until now. And if we had to found an attendance place where we continue spreading our task, we should not found a better scenario than the Fair Play x Play of Granollers which provides the setting of the Fair of Ascenció of this Catalan city.

As specialists in mancala games Bernat Casanovas and Jordi Climent were explaining to the attendants the rules of some of the mancala games with some practical demonstrations. Most of the mancala games we showed had been collected in the last trip made last July on the land of the Yoruba in Nigeria, West Africa.

The star game which was taught to play, obviously, oware (called with different names such as ayò, awoaley, wari, wori, …) one of the most known mancala games among us. Some of the people who approached to our exhibition and demonstration stand already knew the game but not remembered how to play it. Other people had not ever heard about it and when they learnt how to play, within minutes, were fascinated by the attraction of the game. They immediately understood the dynamic of the movements of seeding and capture. Some players already showed their own strategy to make the capture of the seeds.

Throughout the two journeys of Saturday and Sunday we also have taught to play to mancala games such as Jodu, Sokusowo, Odu or JekinJe, which were well received by those who attended to the Fair. The game Sokusowo liked especially to the younger for its curious way of capture before sowing.

The people who participate in our demonstrations were of various ages, so playing games in general or at oware and mancala games in particular is not just an activity for children or young. In fact, any age is good to play and, increasingly is not considered an unserious activity or a waste of time. Going to play at a gaming fair allows releasing the innate creativity and curiosity that each person carries inside.  Our task as specialists was to allow people who approached for playing oware and other games mancala to have new experiences, playing. Losing the fear to take risks on knowing other ways to play which are little known in our society, while incurring a personal challenge.

While we were playing, we were introducing new geographic, cultural and historical data referring to the games we were trying to teach.

We have had the privilege that Salvador Cases visited us, who was the champion of Catalonia and a recognized expert player of oware which we were talking and, of course, playing.

Hoping to see you you next year on the next edition of the Fair Play x Play. We love to play in Granollers!